Co-management is an innovative approach for managing the natural
environment and providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. It
combines the efforts of government agencies legally responsible for
environmental quality with those of citizens and interest groups using
such resources. This article documents the experiences gained from a
co-management process involving the Tine River (a pseudonym) corridor in
Ontario. The analysis focuses on revealing factors that fostered
opportunities and presented barriers to the voluntary nature of the
process. Sharing common objectives, the presence and characteristics of a
network, and willingness to share information appear to create
opportunities for continued involvement. Different perceptions of intent,
particularly between nongovernment and government participants, and
failure to fulfill commitments, appear to destroy opportunities for
involvement by citizens. Implications from this study are particularly
relevant to government agencies, which are identified in this particular
case as being responsible for creating significant barriers to this new
mode of operation through both past and current actions. Recommendations
are made for environmental professionals to foster opportunities and limit
barriers to working with volunteers in pursuing co-management.
Environmental Practice 7:221–234 (2005)